G. Cevolani et al., ON THE FRAGMENTATION PROCESSES IN THE METEOROID STREAMS, Nuovo cimento della Societa italiana di fisica. C, Geophysics and space physics, 19(2), 1996, pp. 285-289
Radar observations of the main meteor showers in 1993-1995 carried out
by a forward-scatter radiosystem Bologna-Lecce in Italy are analysed
and discussed in terms of fragmentation effects even in the orbit of t
he streams of interplanetary matter. The existence of very small parti
cles in all meteoroid streams is revealed by counts of echoes of durat
ion T less than or equal to 0.05 s. A progressive fragmentation is obs
erved to precede in any meteoric complex, likely as a possible consequ
ence of the disintegration of larger bodies in the stream. This disint
egration appears to be more significant in some meteoric complexes (Ge
minids, Leonids and delta-Aquarids), in connection With their differen
tiated structure and composition.